Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have two quick questions. The Minister must realise that in small rural towns around Ireland, and where I come from, there is no bus at all now. There are private buses in some of the larger towns but we have no bus service now. Does the Minister believe that a Bus Éireann driver who goes from Waterford to Galway, for example, should be on the equivalent wage as a Dublin Bus driver? I am not asking the Minister himself to go in but as the largest stakeholder in Bus Éireann, is the Minister prepared to instruct Bus Éireann to go into talks - and if it is not through the Workplace Relations Commission that the Minister would appoint an independent person - and to invite the unions? In another room the Minister could put the National Transport Authority and his Department. I believe there are routes that may not be profitable and the Minister may have to get support on that. Is the Minister prepared to do that?